Method for moving an elevator car

Abstract

A method is provided for moving an elevator car in a rescue operation after at least one electric elevator brake have been actuated, whereafter the brake is re-opened via a manual brake opening device and operated to allow a movement of the elevator car to a next landing. The manual brake opening device is connected to an end limit indicator detector, which end limit indicator detector is configured to issue an end limit signal when elevator car arrives at an area of an end limit indicator at the end of its movement range of the elevator car in the elevator shaft. When the end limit indicator detector outputs an end limit signal to the manual brake opening device, the elevator brake is actuated by the manual brake opening device to stop the elevator car.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for moving an elevator car in a rescue operation after at least one electric elevator brake has been actuated, whereafter the brake is re-opened via a manual brake opening device and operated to allow a movement of the elevator car to a next landing, said method comprising the steps of:
 connecting the manual brake opening device to an end limit indicator detector, the end limit indicator detector being configured to issue an end limit signal when the elevator car arrives at an area of an end limit indicator at the end of the movement range of the elevator car in the elevator shaft; 
 activating the brake intermittently when the at least one elevator car is moving to control a speed of the at least one elevator car during emergency operation; and 
 when the end limit indicator detector outputs an end limit signal to the manual brake opening device, actuating the elevator brake by the manual brake opening device to stop the elevator car. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the end limit indicator is fitted to the top and/or lower end in a sufficient distance to a corresponding end buffer in the elevator shaft to allow the drop of car speed from nominal speed to an admissible approach speed for the corresponding end buffer. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the end limit indicator is a door zone indicator of the highest and/or lowest landing. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the elevator has a safety gear and a governor configured to trigger the safety gear when elevator car speed exceeds a threshold value, which is higher than the dimensioned collision speed of the reduced buffer. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the brake is operated intermittently by the manual brake opening device. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the end limit indicator is a door zone indicator of the highest and/or lowest landing. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the elevator has a safety gear and a governor configured to trigger the safety gear when elevator car speed exceeds a threshold value, which is higher than the dimensioned collision speed of the reduced buffer. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the brake is operated intermittently by the manual brake opening device. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the elevator has a safety gear and a governor configured to trigger the safety gear when elevator car speed exceeds a threshold value, which is higher than the dimensioned collision speed of the reduced buffer. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the power for the manual brake opening device for controlling and energizing the elevator brake and the power for the end limit indicator detector is taken from an independent emergency power supply. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the manual brake opening device is designed to operate independently of an elevator control. 
     
     
       12. An elevator comprising:
 at least one elevator car travelling in an elevator shaft; and 
 a drive unit for moving the elevator car, 
 wherein the drive unit comprises at least one electric brake, and the elevator comprises a manual brake opening device to operate the at least one electric brake in an emergency to allow the movement of the elevator car to release trapped passengers, 
 wherein the manual brake opening device comprises a signal connection to an end limit indicator detector, 
 wherein the manual brake opening device is designed to actuate the at least one electric brake to stop the elevator car upon receiving a signal of the end limit indicator detector, and 
 wherein the manual brake opening device comprises an operating control configured to activate the brake intermittently when the at least one elevator car is moving to control a speed of the at least one elevator car during emergency operation. 
 
     
     
       13. The elevator according to  claim 12 , wherein the manual brake opening device is connected with an independent emergency power supply. 
     
     
       14. The elevator according to  claim 12 , wherein the elevator has at least one end buffer at the top and/or bottom of the elevator shaft, and wherein the end limit indicator is located at such a distance from the corresponding end buffer, that upon activation of the elevator brake initiated by the end limit indicator detector via the manual brake opening device, the speed of the elevator car is reduced to an admissible approach speed for the end buffer below the nominal speed of the elevator. 
     
     
       15. The elevator according to  claim 12 , wherein the manual brake opening device comprises a manually operable actuator switch to activate the manual brake opening device to open the elevator brakes. 
     
     
       16. The elevator according to  claim 12 , wherein the manual brake opening device is designed to operate independently of an elevator control. 
     
     
       17. The elevator according to  claim 12 , wherein the manual brake opening device is an electric brake operator. 
     
     
       18. The elevator according to  claim 17 , wherein the electric brake operator comprises a manually operable actuator switch designed to activate the electric brake operator to release the brake, at least one power switch for energizing and de-energizing the brake and an operator control being responsive to the signal received from the end limit indicator detector.